NFL Schedule

Emotionally charged games you’ll want to see

Lovie Smith will return to Chicago as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Kim Klement – USA TODAY Sports)

In the NFL, revenge is a dish best served on national television.

While DeSean Jackson’s return to Philadelphia and Darrelle Revis’ two games against the New York Jets will receive the most headlines, there are multiple other games where long-tenured players or coaches will compete against teams that discarded them.

Here are five instances where the games will mean a little more to at least one of the participants involved:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears, Nov. 23

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith served in the same capacity with the Chicago Bears for nine years. Over that time, the Bears were 81-63, made the playoffs three times and appeared in Super Bowl XLI.

The Bears decided to part ways with Smith after a 10-6 campaign in 2012. He took a year off before accepting his current position with the Buccaneers.

Smith may be a little more thankful during Thanksgiving if he can lead his team to a victory days before the holiday.

The Buccaneers’ head coach won’t be the only former Bear returning to Chicago that weekend.

Josh McCown spent three seasons as the Bears backup QB. McCown was signed as a free agent by the Buccaneers, presumably to be the team’s starting quarterback after a breakout season in Chicago last year.

McCown took over for an injured Jay Cutler and started five games last season. In those games, McCown was the NFL’s most efficient passer. He threw for 1,543 yards, 11 touchdowns and only one interception.

It’s an opportunity for McCown to be on the same field as Cutler and prove he is actually the better quarterback.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Cleveland Browns, Dec. 7

With the third overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

The Browns were supposed to build their offense around the potential workhorse running back. Richardson suffered multiple injuries and lacked explosion, though, and was dealt by the previous regime after the second week of his second season with the team.

In 14 games with the Colts last season, Richardson ran for 458 yards. He averaged an atrocious 2.9 yards per carry after the trade was made. Donald Brown eventually became the Colts’ starting running back. And Richardson was non-existent in the playoffs with four carries for one yard.

The 2014 campaign could be a redemption year for Richardson. And the Browns can expect the running back’s best once he returns to Cleveland.

New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans, Dec. 14

Upon Ken Whisenhunt’s arrival as the new head coach of the Titans, the team wouldn’t commit long-term to RB Chris Johnson. What commenced was months of speculation about whether or not the team would trade or release the veteran back.

The organization wasn’t eager to pay Johnson $8 million during the upcoming season and eventually released him.

One of the teams that discussed a trade with the Titans prior to Johnson’s release was the New York Jets. Johnson signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Jets on April 16.

During his career with the Titans, Johnson ran for 7,965 yards, including a 2,000-yard campaign in 2009. But Johnson will turn 29 in Sept., and he’s coming off the worst season of his career.

By Dec. Johnson could be the Jets starting running back and ready for his return to Tennessee.

Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders, Sept. 14

Matt Schaub holds every major Houston Texans passing record. He spent seven seasons with the franchise, before it decided to change course under new head coach Bill O’Brien.

During the 2013 campaign, Schaub struggled and was benched in favor of unproven QB Case Keenum.

Schaub was traded to the Raiders March 21 for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. Schaub was almost immediately named the Raiders’ starter, and he’ll be eager to prove he has something left against his old team.

Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons, Oct. 12

Very few players in Bears history have provided the same type of excitement as Devin Hester.

Hester left Chicago as the NFL’s all-time leader in return touchdowns with 19. He was a four-time All-Pro and made three Pro Bowls. For a long stretch, Hester was the one weapon on the Bears’ roster that teams truly feared.

Hester signed with the Falcons March 20 to become their primary returner. When the Bears come to Atlanta, Hester will try to provide the same electricity for the Falcons he once did for the Bears.